Orville Vogel

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Orville A. Vogel was U.S. Department of Agriculture--Agriculture Research Service scientist at Washington State University from 1931-1972. He bred wheats that helped usher in the Green Revolution.

Cecil Salmon, a biologist working in post-WWII Japan, collected 16 varieties of wheat, including one called “Norin 10”, which was very short, thus less likely to suffer wind damage. Salmon sent it to Orville Vogel in Washington in 1949. Vogel began crossing Norin 10 with other wheats to make new short-strawed varieties. Vogel led the team that developed Gaines,the first of several new varieties that produced 25 percent higher yields than the varieties they replaced.

Vogel shared his germplasm with Norman Borlaug, who later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the “green revolution.” Borlaug publicly acknowledged Vogel’s contributions to his research.

In retirement, Vogel established a fund to help finance wheat research. He and his wife, Bertha, matched donations to help launch the fund.

Today, Vogel is honored with the Orville A. Vogel Endowed Chair in Wheat Breeding and Genetics, at Washington State University.